10 lessons schedule

Philip Samuel Asked 2 weeks ago

Good morning Alois or Jeff

I am a Division 5 player in Sydney hovering around 800 RC. As I am working on reaching Division 4 I have booked a 10 lesson (30 minutes only because of bad knees) with James Wong in Pymble, Sydney. He says that to get to Division 4 I need to improve my serve returns, my serves, my third ball, and apply my offensive shots rather than pushes.  I would be interested in your views on how to schedule these 10 sessions. Our season is now over. I will have time to practice in between sessions with social games and my PPO robot.  Thank you

Alois Rosario Answered 2 weeks ago

Hi Philip,

It's great to hear that you're committed to improving your table tennis skills and moving up to Division 4. Working with James Wong sounds like a fantastic opportunity, and having a clear plan for your sessions will definitely help maximise your improvement.  I am sure he will be beneficial for you.

Here’s a suggested breakdown for your 10 lessons:

Lesson 1: Serve Analysis and Fundamentals - Start with analysing your current serves. - Focus on developing two strong serves that you can rely on. 

Lesson 2: Serve Variations - Work on adding spin variations and placement to your serves. - Practice disguising your serve to make it less predictable. 

Lesson 3: Serve Return Basics 
- Focus on reading the opponent’s serve.
- Practice basic returns on different types of serves.

Lesson 4: Advanced Serve Returns - Work on aggressive returns like flicks and quick topspin off short serves. 

Lesson 5: Third Ball Attack - Combine your serve and follow-up with a strong third ball attack. - Practice different scenarios based on your serve and the likely returns. 

Lesson 6: Transitioning from Serve to Rally - Focus on moving from your serve to your preferred rally position. - Work on maintaining an offensive stance after serving. 

Lesson 7: Offensive Shots (Forehand and Backhand Loops) - Refine your technique for both forehand and backhand loops. - Practice these shots in multi-ball and robot sessions to build consistency. 

Lesson 8: Application of Offense in Game Play - Integrate offensive shots into regular play. - Focus on decision-making: when to push and when to attack. 

Lesson 9: Strategy and Adaptation - Discuss and practice different strategies against varied playing styles. - Learn to adapt your game plan based on the progress of the match. 

Lesson 10: Review and Match Simulation - Review all the skills covered. - Engage in match simulations focusing on applying what you’ve learned under pressure.

Through all of these lessons you may be able to combine a few ideas from each lesson.  I am sure James will be able to guide you through.  Between each session, make sure to practice the skills you've learned.  Use your PPO robot to drill specific shots and scenarios repetitively. Playing social games will also be crucial, as it will give you the experience of dealing with different styles and adapting your game accordingly. Remember, consistency is key in table tennis. The more you can reinforce the skills learned in your sessions through practice and match play, the quicker you'll see improvement. Best of luck, Philip, and keep us posted on your progress.